tragicomedy

noun

tragi·​com·​e·​dy ˌtra-ji-ˈkä-mə-dē How to pronounce tragicomedy (audio)
: a drama or a situation blending tragic and comic elements

Examples of tragicomedy in a Sentence

The play is a tragicomedy about a man's search for love.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
If that sounds less than promising, even for a deadpan Romanian slice-of-life tragicomedy, go ahead and make the mistake of skipping this one. Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 3 Dec. 2024 The jury cited his skill in crafting a tragicomedy against the backdrop of social upheaval. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 Nov. 2024 John Fawcett’s flawless tragicomedy is part satire, part splatter body-horror flick, part full-on monster movie, and complete heart. EW.com, 31 Oct. 2024 The Off-Broadway tragicomedy stars Driver as Strings McCrane, a country music icon who finds himself at a crossroads following the death of his mother. Jessica Wang, EW.com, 15 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for tragicomedy 

Word History

Etymology

Middle French tragicomedie, from Old Italian tragicomedia, from Old Spanish, from Latin tragicomoedia, from tragicus + comoedia comedy

First Known Use

circa 1580, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tragicomedy was circa 1580

Dictionary Entries Near tragicomedy

Cite this Entry

“Tragicomedy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tragicomedy. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

tragicomedy

noun
tragi·​com·​edy
ˌtraj-i-ˈkäm-əd-ē
: a play or situation which blends tragic and comic elements
tragicomic
-ˈkäm-ik
adjective
also tragicomical
-i-kəl

More from Merriam-Webster on tragicomedy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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